Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the Polish parliament building in Warsaw on Tuesday to protest MPs’ rejection of a bill that would soften the country’s strict abortion law.
Deeply religious Poland has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. A termination of pregnancy is possible only in cases of rape, incest, or if the life and health of the pregnant woman are at risk. Assisting in an abortion can result in up to three years in prison.
Poland’s coalition government came to power after promising a revamp of the abortion laws.
After parliamentary elections in October, centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) grouping cobbled together a parliamentary majority, including the pro-abortion Left party and the conservative Polish People’s Party (PSL).
On July 12, the lower house of parliament rejected a bill that sought to scrap penalties for people who help a woman get an abortion. Many PSL MPs voted against the measure.
This has angered women’s rights groups, who staged a protest in front of the parliament building on Tuesday evening under the slogan “Abortion! Yes!”
Marta Lempart, a member of the All-Poland Women’s Strike, one of the organizers of the demonstration, accused lawmakers from the ruling coalition of deception.
“You got [parliamentary] seats because of us,” she said. “Give them back if you don’t like the electorate.”
She directed her anger toward Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the leader of the PSL, which is a junior partner in the ruling coalition.
“We demand the dismissal of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,” Lempart said, referring to his position as deputy prime minister and minister of defense. “We don’t want a hypocrite in the government.”
The protesters carried banners with slogans including “Women’s Hell,” “I don’t want to die of pregnancy,” and “No more waiting. Time to fulfill promises.”
Similar demonstrations were held in other Polish cities.
Poland’s abortion laws, which were already among the toughest in Europe, were made even stricter after a 2020 ruling by the constitutional court. The verdict followed a request filed with the court by the then-governing socially conservative and rightwing populist alliance headed by the Law and Justice Party (PiS).
Before the 2020 verdict, which in effect introduced a near-total ban on abortions, the procedures were allowed in cases of severe damage to the fetus.
Massive street protests erupted across the country following the ruling.
Poland’s coalition government came to power after promising a revamp of the abortion laws.
After parliamentary elections in October, centrist Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Coalition (KO) grouping cobbled together a parliamentary majority, including the pro-abortion Left party and the conservative Polish People’s Party (PSL).
On July 12, the lower house of parliament rejected a bill that sought to scrap penalties for people who help a woman get an abortion. Many PSL MPs voted against the measure.
This has angered women’s rights groups, who staged a protest in front of the parliament building on Tuesday evening under the slogan “Abortion! Yes!”
Marta Lempart, a member of the All-Poland Women’s Strike, one of the organizers of the demonstration, accused lawmakers from the ruling coalition of deception.
“You got [parliamentary] seats because of us,” she said. “Give them back if you don’t like the electorate.”
She directed her anger toward Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the leader of the PSL, which is a junior partner in the ruling coalition.
“We demand the dismissal of Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,” Lempart said, referring to his position as deputy prime minister and minister of defense. “We don’t want a hypocrite in the government.”
The protesters carried banners with slogans including “Women’s Hell,” “I don’t want to die of pregnancy,” and “No more waiting. Time to fulfill promises.”
Similar demonstrations were held in other Polish cities.
Poland’s abortion laws, which were already among the toughest in Europe, were made even stricter after a 2020 ruling by the constitutional court. The verdict followed a request filed with the court by the then-governing socially conservative and rightwing populist alliance headed by the Law and Justice Party (PiS).
Before the 2020 verdict, which in effect introduced a near-total ban on abortions, the procedures were allowed in cases of severe damage to the fetus.
Massive street protests erupted across the country following the ruling.
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